Supplies sought for Iraq schools

May 09, 2004

PARK FOREST — The village of Park Forest is reaching out to impoverished children in Iraq by joining a national grass-roots movement called Operation Iraqi Children.

Spearheaded by Gary Sinise, the actor and Blue Island native, and Laura Hillenbrand, author of "Seabiscuit: An American Legend," the effort seeks donations of school supplies for some 1,500 woefully under-equipped schools in Iraq.

"It's good for the people in the community," said Michael McDonnell, a member of the village's Commission on Human Relations. "You see all this stuff on television. It's all bad news. But you know there's good stuff going on that's unseen."

The effort was inspired by American soldiers who noticed Iraqi schools lacked the most basic supplies so they started their own collections for the children.

Collection boxes are set up at the Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive; the library, 400 Lakewood Blvd.; and Tattlers Sports Bar and Grill, 90 S. Orchard Drive.